As we reach the highest price bracket, you might notice there’s a bit of a theme developing. If you’ve got more than £20,000 to spend, the best hot hatch you can buy is yet another Renault.

For starters, the Mégane 250 Cup offers phenomenal performance and a beautifully balanced chassis that delivers masses of feel and grip. However, it’s not some track-focused special that’s a pain to live with every day – standard equipment is generous, it’s quiet at speed and the ride is reasonably comfortable.

If you’re after something even more civilised then we’d head straight for the nearest Volkswagen dealer because the latest Golf GTI mixes speed and agility with fantastic everyday usability and an impeccable image.

Alternatively, if power is your top priority then the Golf R and Seat’s Leon Cupra R should be on your list with their 260bhp.

Does this make them more entertaining than the Renault, though? Absolutely not. It’s much lighter than both these rivals, so it’s not only more agile but also every bit as fast.

Tester's view‘Building a hot hatch can be a simple recipe: take a conventional model, stuff a hotter engine under the bonnet, make the suspension stiffer, then garnish with big wheels and a racy bodykit.

‘If the standard car isn’t that good to drive, though, you’ve got your work cut out – which makes Renault’s triple success even more impressive. The stock versions of the Twingo, Clio and Mégane are hardly class-leaders, but with the expertise of Renaultsport’s engineers, they’ve been turned into world-beaters.

‘A powerful, revvy engine; a chassis that combines poise with precision; steering that’s alive with feedback; even how sensitive the pedals are – every part of this trio has been honed to make driving them a thrill.

‘That’s why I love hot hatches – and why I love all of these fast Renaults.’Barnaby Jones Deputy production editorBarnaby.Jones@whatcar.com